Punta Cana.– The Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange (DATE) held in Punta Cana April
20-22 drew international tourism buyers and media to the Dominican
Republic, the Caribbean's "It" destination for natural beauty,
amazing eco-tourism and a growing wealth of sophisticated hotels and
resorts.
During the country's annual tourism conference, Minister of Tourism
Francisco Javier Garcia stressed that the government will continue its
strong investment in DR tourism infrastructure including building the
Atlantic Boulevard in Puerto Plata, the revitalization and development
of major highways and roads, and an "even deeper commitment to ensuring
that the natural beauty of the DR is sustained for generations to come."
Garcia announced the DR's long-term commitment to developing
beautiful, well-lit urban spaces where tourists can walk among shops
and restaurants while experiencing the friendly culture and easy-going
lifestyle of Dominicans. He noted the urban space developments will
take place in cities like Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo and
Samana.
Garcia also highlighted the concerted effort by the country to
revitalize roads and build new highways, including a highway from Santo
Domingo to Samana that shortens drive time from 5.5 to 2 hours and a
planned highway from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana that will shorten the
drive from 3.5 to 2 hours.
In addition, cruise tourism to the DR is growing with the newly
opened Sans Souci terminal in the port of Santo Domingo and more cruise
ships are regularly stopping in Samana and La Romana. He also noted
that a study is underway to develop the port in Puerto Plata.
From: United States
I was swimming at Playa Grande after Semana Santa one year. I at the the far end where the waves were not high.
I felt something brushing my ankles as the small waves came and went. I thought it was sea grass. It wasn't.
It was thousands and I mean thousands of small plastic cups. To say the least I was grossed out.
Dominicans think NOTHING about throwing their trash anywhere.
It will be 20 years before the DR could be eco friendly
Written by: Juango, 25 Apr 2009 11:50 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
To even consider EcoTourism a viable business, one must have an educated (basic education) society. This will never be the case in the DR in our lifetime. By the time the governments address this issue, the DR landscape will look like HAITI's. The raping of nature continues in the DR, backed by powerful/political influencing folks.
Written by: Belly, 25 Apr 2009 12:31 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Houston,Texas y San Francisco, DR
How long will it be before all this idiots recongnise there are 27 province in Dominican republic and you can't just tax everybody and expend the money in 2 places when will this be level out to allow other areas to improve. Adding more lights to tourist area is not going to help Dominicans on the west that are still driving on dirt roads monkey wow I mean isn't common sence for the gov build up infastructure and let investor make the island pretty.
From: United States
If I lived in Samana I would NOT want a highway.
Just means more trailer thrash will come and destroy the ecology. I've seen it first hand and you do not have to look hard or far for the destruction.
Written by: agibus 
, 25 Apr 2009 3:22 PM
From: United States
DR is contempling eco tourism .Wonderfull concept they qualified green way or contact with nature .Nudist camp is in the plan .DR IS NOT READY YET .Only horses on the beach are naked .Good begining.
Written by: agibus , 25 Apr 2009 3:26 PM
From: United States
Fransisco Javier Garcia is invited as special guest in a nudist camp very eco loco
Written by: Juango, 25 Apr 2009 4:00 PM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
This is the same fellow, Javier Garcia who said over 6 months ago, there would be $1.0 billion US invested in Cabarete. Does he really have any credibility? He is just another Jeepeta riding politico and has yet to show any accomplishments since his appointment. Lots of talk, but no action, yet.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
In reality , the new highway, which is a toll road being built by the Columbians, to Samana has always been almost empty when I have driven along it because the series of 3 tolls is too expensive.
I also look, every day, at the tons of litter along the roadside on the outskirts of la Romana where I live and also along the road between Sosua and Cabarete , where I often visit and the simple fact is that Dominicans are not tidy or environment conscious. It is a tragedy that this lovely country is badly polluted by unsympathetic developments, by the destruction of natural vegetation by machinery and by litter everywhere. Just a lack of education and pride in the country.
From: Dominican Republic, Santiago
yeah so i know that santiago isn't a tourist destination, but i'd like some urban "re-vamp" here! :) please...
Written by: antonio1, 25 Apr 2009 8:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Av Santa Rosa, La Romana
Great news..We finally have a forward thinking government official in that department/// Mr Garcia, If you are reading this site I say "Suerte".
Written by: pelaut, 26 Apr 2009 8:07 AM
From: United States
Hey look!
They're studying the port of Puerto Plata.
Of course it started with the "marina" project under the Forteleza in 1985, has been ongoing since.
So far they've managed in 1990 to put a floating power plant just upwind of the tourist project of Costambar. It's still going. Costambar isn't.
The cash cow is power plants that don't produce power and CONSTRUCTION of AI resorts that crumble underused.
Tourism development?
Written by: locco, 26 Apr 2009 8:46 AM
From: Dominican Republic
until the goverment wakes up this massive trash problem will continue your right Dominicans do throw trash every and any where they please but most of the usa is the same. if the pepole don,t care it will not change it the same though process " oh some else will clean it up " just like in the states I see the young people every day throw the trash in the streets this is what they see so this is what they learn I'm not a tree hugger but it only takes a second or two to hit a garbage can
From: Dominican Republic, Las Terrenas
Hello Fooks,
why is it always that people are writing so negative about this country... Are these people yelous or some inside angriness or unhappiness.
For sure, the Dr is not paradise... But tell me... WHERE IS PARADISE...??? You have to make your own paradise...
Every country has its advantadges and disadvantages.
I came from the Netherlands to the DR around 5 years ago, and despite all the inconveniances this country has, i really like to live here. Friendly and nice people, looking and doing business is easy, life is cheaper, lots of sun (and rain whats good for the grass).
Everybody here is complaining about the politicians... For sure, they are not saints... But look to the USA for example... and the main people in the large companies... are the saints... remember... crisis....
Written by: Juango, 26 Apr 2009 10:43 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
AMEN, gmiller. The lack of education permeates all levels of dominican life. It will take 2-3 generations to change this mindset and begin realizing the positive changes education will bring to the DR. It is NOT a short term solution and there are NO shortcuts.
Written by: locco, 26 Apr 2009 1:01 PM
From: Dominican Republic
tony your right i,m not picking on Dominicans it,s a international problem but as an American their are many similaries and your right again the DR is a good place to live
From: Dominican Republic
Besides the lack of environmental education we have in the DR, the authorities who should be doing something about it dont do anything. I bet the representative of tourism doesn't know what ecotourism means. I personally hate the way people throw trash in the streets like if it was nothing.
Yes things could change in the future but not until people really feel inside that that's not correct. I never felt anything about dumping garbage in the streets and everywhere when i was living in the DR, plus nobody ever told me that was incorrect specially the authorities.
This is a worldwide problem, Mexico is worse i believe. I congratulate the united states where this is not the case in most part. Have you ever been in Oregon? here people really know how to recycle and take care of the nature and the whole environment, they work togueter in the Radio, TV and all the Media so people get familiarized with the culture of reciclying.
Written by: agibus , 26 Apr 2009 6:14 PM
From: United States
US is champion in world pollution .Oregon maybe but not a reference.DR can control his environment .Make new taxes on turists.
From: United States, Bay Area, CA - (Dei sitio)
gmiller261, I felt exactly the same evertime I visited any US beach (Massachusetts; California; Rhode Island).
agibus, you're right. Just look at what the US has made to the Mississipp river and many others important ones. It is a shame.
Dominican Republic contamination is mostly solid domestic trash, but contamination in developed contries is toxic industrial waste.
From: Dominican Republic, Parque Colon statue of Anacaona
Francisco Javier Garcia knows Jaime David will be the next president and he is just polishing the apple but if it leads to more awareness that would be excellent Everyone knows green is the big issue of the future as in ecology and money
From: United States
perlurdom, please. There is NO comparison.
Agreed, 25 years ago the US realized it aged Lake Erie by 10 million years. But they responsibility for it and fixed it.
Acid rain was a very bad problem years ago but the US held businesses accountable for their actions and fixed that. Many, many more examples.
Here's the issue. It is the 21 st century and the DR's mentality is in the 19th century. They have NO concept of responsibility or accountability in any part of their society. Grow up !
Written by: xwill7, 27 Apr 2009 1:02 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
DR needs to recycle and clean the rivers. How many times do you see a junk car stripped and abandoned behind some bushes???
From: United States
About four or more years ago a cruise ship came into the Puerto Plata port to test if it is possible.
The port owners supposedly cleaned and dredged the docking area.
As the ship was docking, one of it's bow thrusters sucked up a washing machine or refrigerator, I forget which one. That was the end of that plan.
Dominican do not have a clue what eco-friendly means.
From: Dominican Republic
Now the government needs to press the Coca Cola company which is the Island's largest producer of plastic trash to put a redemption fee on thier bottles and open a recyling pland to make tinancos and plasitic floor mats for all the houses with the dirt floors.
If there is even a 1/2 peso return fee for the bottles, the Dominican kids will pick up all the bottles pronto/.
I think that some of you DomYorkans have been away from the Island too long and underestimate your own people. Dominicans are cracker jack smart and catch on really fast as soon at there is money involved.
From: Dominican Republic
Sorry there is more-- the new minister of the Environment is awesome! Incredible! Brilliant! Better than anything....... You really ought to stop trashing the place with your mouths from the United States and start talking about how beautiful the place is. The DR ranked 33 in the WORLD for plans for environmental protection. There are more trees now than there were 40 years ago.... Sometimes I think that you all just enjoy dissing the country........
Written by: abc200, 6 May 2009 7:06 AM
From: United Kingdom, Dominican Republic
Smaller
Bigger
Close Gallery
Facebook
Digg this
del.icio.us
Technorati
Yahoo
I felt something brushing my ankles as the small waves came and went. I thought it was sea grass. It wasn't.
It was thousands and I mean thousands of small plastic cups. To say the least I was grossed out.
Dominicans think NOTHING about throwing their trash anywhere.
It will be 20 years before the DR could be eco friendly
If I lived in Samana I would NOT want a highway.
Just means more trailer thrash will come and destroy the ecology. I've seen it first hand and you do not have to look hard or far for the destruction.
I also look, every day, at the tons of litter along the roadside on the outskirts of la Romana where I live and also along the road between Sosua and Cabarete , where I often visit and the simple fact is that Dominicans are not tidy or environment conscious. It is a tragedy that this lovely country is badly polluted by unsympathetic developments, by the destruction of natural vegetation by machinery and by litter everywhere. Just a lack of education and pride in the country.
They're studying the port of Puerto Plata.
Of course it started with the "marina" project under the Forteleza in 1985, has been ongoing since.
So far they've managed in 1990 to put a floating power plant just upwind of the tourist project of Costambar. It's still going. Costambar isn't.
The cash cow is power plants that don't produce power and CONSTRUCTION of AI resorts that crumble underused.
Tourism development?
why is it always that people are writing so negative about this country... Are these people yelous or some inside angriness or unhappiness.
For sure, the Dr is not paradise... But tell me... WHERE IS PARADISE...??? You have to make your own paradise...
Every country has its advantadges and disadvantages.
I came from the Netherlands to the DR around 5 years ago, and despite all the inconveniances this country has, i really like to live here. Friendly and nice people, looking and doing business is easy, life is cheaper, lots of sun (and rain whats good for the grass).
Everybody here is complaining about the politicians... For sure, they are not saints... But look to the USA for example... and the main people in the large companies... are the saints... remember... crisis....
Yes things could change in the future but not until people really feel inside that that's not correct. I never felt anything about dumping garbage in the streets and everywhere when i was living in the DR, plus nobody ever told me that was incorrect specially the authorities.
This is a worldwide problem, Mexico is worse i believe. I congratulate the united states where this is not the case in most part. Have you ever been in Oregon? here people really know how to recycle and take care of the nature and the whole environment, they work togueter in the Radio, TV and all the Media so people get familiarized with the culture of reciclying.
agibus, you're right. Just look at what the US has made to the Mississipp river and many others important ones. It is a shame.
Dominican Republic contamination is mostly solid domestic trash, but contamination in developed contries is toxic industrial waste.
Agreed, 25 years ago the US realized it aged Lake Erie by 10 million years. But they responsibility for it and fixed it.
Acid rain was a very bad problem years ago but the US held businesses accountable for their actions and fixed that. Many, many more examples.
Here's the issue. It is the 21 st century and the DR's mentality is in the 19th century. They have NO concept of responsibility or accountability in any part of their society. Grow up !
About four or more years ago a cruise ship came into the Puerto Plata port to test if it is possible.
The port owners supposedly cleaned and dredged the docking area.
As the ship was docking, one of it's bow thrusters sucked up a washing machine or refrigerator, I forget which one. That was the end of that plan.
Dominican do not have a clue what eco-friendly means.
If there is even a 1/2 peso return fee for the bottles, the Dominican kids will pick up all the bottles pronto/.
I think that some of you DomYorkans have been away from the Island too long and underestimate your own people. Dominicans are cracker jack smart and catch on really fast as soon at there is money involved.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200905...._as/as_australia_world_s_best_job
Perhaps Dominican Today can make an award to the best blogger who can ride an ostrich.
S.